Skip advert
Advertisement

Used Volkswagen up! review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Volkswagen up! focusing on the up! Mk1 (2012-date)

In the automotive sector some of the biggest strides have been made in the smallest cars in recent years, and the up! is proof of this. No longer do you have to settle for low-rent plastics, minimal equipment, poor refinement or a lack of space. True, an entry-level up! doesn’t bring much kit, but something further up the range offers decent luxury. At our recent New Car Awards the revised up! scooped the Best City Car crown; buy a used pre or post-facelift model and you’re getting an even better deal.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s fair to say when the Volkswagen up! arrived in 2012, it put the cat among the pigeons. VW is no stranger to creating desirable (if conservative) products, but after its decidedly lacklustre Fox city car, few people expected such a talented machine to emanate from the German brand.

So capable is the up! that when we first drove one in 2011, we said: “If you want the best city car around, look no further. The expertly packaged VW is spacious, stylish and fun to drive, but the real magic emerges on longer drives as the up! is more refined and comfortable than any of its rivals. The city car sector has a new benchmark.” 

Models covered 

  • Volkswagen up! Mk1 (2012-date) - City car pioneer looks a bargain used.

Volkswagen up! Mk1

History

The three-door up! arrived in March 2012, offered only with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine in either 59bhp (60PS) or 74bhp (75PS) guises. Initially all cars came with a five-speed manual gearbox, but from August 2012 five-speed automatic and five-door options were introduced.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

AMG A45

2015 Mercedes

AMG A45

58,900 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £17,289
View AMG A45
Q5

2025 Audi

Q5

41,049 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £28,097
View Q5
Q2

2026 Audi

Q2

43,402 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £20,507
View Q2
A1 Sportback

2023 Audi

A1 Sportback

19,961 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £17,342
View A1 Sportback

At launch there were Black and White special editions with cosmetic upgrades like alloys; by July 2013 there were also Groove up! and Rock up! specials, with upgraded hi-fi and bodykits/decals respectively. The electric e-up! appeared in January 2014 (at £24,250, less a £5,000 grant).

Advertisement - Article continues below

A facelifted up! reached showrooms in August 2016 with a revised dash and exterior design, an 89bhp 1.0-litre TSI engine option, improved connectivity and more personalisation choices. 

Volkswagen up! reviews

Volkswagen up! in-depth review
Volkswagen up! 1.0 TSI review
Volkswagen High up! 1.0 review
Volkswagen High up! 1.0 TSI review
Volkswagen Move up! 1.0 review
Volkswagen up! Beats 1.0 TSI review
Volkswagen Take up! 1.0 review
Volkswagen up! long-term test review

Which one should I buy?

Only you can decide how many doors you need, but we’d recommend sticking with the manual gearbox if possible because it’s much nicer to use than the auto. Every up! is a strict four-seater, and whichever power output you choose you’ll get similar fuel economy; the 1.0 TSI in the few facelifted cars on sale used is rare, but usefully more zippy. The sparsely equipped entry-level Take up! gets steel wheels and a two-speaker stereo; the mid-range Move up! adds air-con, remote central locking, a split-folding rear seat, electric front windows and driver’s seat height adjustment.

The range-topping High up! features heated front seats, alloy wheels plus the Maps & More system. Options worth having include the Maps & More slot-in Personal Infotainment Device (PID) and City Emergency Braking. 

Alternatives to the Volkswagen up!

The closest rivals to the up! are its SEAT and Skoda cousins, the Mii and Citigo. Both offer the same blend of attributes as the Volkswagen, but at lower prices.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Also closely related to each other are the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10, which offer stronger value and better warranties, plus levels of build quality and reliability that are equal to the Volkswagen’s. The Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108 are all different versions of the same car and they’re all worth a closer look, but even though they’re newer than the VW, they don’t feel quite as grown-up.

If you want something with lots of character, the Fiat 500 might appeal; its interior is cramped, but it’s still fun to drive. 

What to look for: 

Steamy glass

A lot of owners have had problems with heavy condensation on the inside of the windscreen during the winter months. Air-con often helps to clear it. 

Gear crunch

A clunking noise when changing gear (on manual models) seems to be more of a refinement issue than a fault with the transmission.

Gearbox

But a few early cars did have problematic gearboxes, and some of these needed to be replaced within just weeks of delivery. 

Poor signal

Cars featuring the standard RCD215 radio can suffer from poor reception. Fitting a longer aerial can improve the sound quality. 

Interior

The up! isn’t lavish and in places it even appears a little cheap, but the cabin is clearly laid out and generally feels durable. There’s seating for four people, a 251-litre boot (or 951 litres with the seats folded) and the removable Personal Infotainment Device is a really neat space-saving touch. Upgrade from an entry-level model to get more luxury.

Running costs

All models use the same three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine, so have the same service interval. That’s set at every 12 months or 10,000 miles. Check-ups alternate between minor and major, priced at £118 and £163 or £164 and £329 once a car has reached its third birthday.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Although a timing belt is fitted, there’s no set interval to change it. From 60,000 miles it needs an inspection every year; it’s then replaced when it has started to degrade. It should last at least 100,000 miles, but when it is due, expect to pay £434 for the work.

Brake fluid has to be replaced after three years then biennially (at £64). Coolant is checked at each service.

Recalls

The up! has been recalled four times, the first two because of airbag faults. Cars built between January and March 2013 were called back in May 2013 because faults might not be flagged up; the airbags could go off for no reason in cars made between February and August 2014.

In June 2016, examples of the up! built from November 2015 to April 2016 were recalled over failing child locks. In September 2016, cars made between February and April 2016 were called back because sunroofs could detach.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The up! just scraped into this year’s Driver Power survey, in 75th; last year it was 111th and in 2015 it ranked 56th. The car’s best score was for fuel economy and running costs, followed by reliability and build quality. Impressively, just two per cent of owners said they’d had a problem.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,776 off RRP*Used from £13,850
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £7,568 off RRP*Used from £13,600
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,297 off RRP*
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,153 off RRP*Used from £15,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k
Geely EX5 - front

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k

This new electric SUV is coming soon to the UK from Volvo and Lotus parent company, Geely
News
15 Sep 2025
Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain
Nissan Qashqai electric render Avarvarii - front 3/4

Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain

There will be an overlap of powertrains for the big-selling SUV
News
15 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month
Polestar 4 - cornering, low shot

Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month

Fancy something smart and sophisticated? You won’t look back with the Polestar 4. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 13
News
13 Sep 2025